Toilet flush valve



p 1968 w. H. GALLOGLY TOILET FLUSH VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1964 INVENTOR. W557 H GAZZOGL Y BY ET: & nf 5& KMM

p 7, 1968 w. H. GALLOVGLY 3,401,716

TOILET FLUSH VALVE Filed March 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2/ INVENTOR. 3 O V 3d WA)? A. 6/11 .4 064 Y I BY 82 4 4 32 33 q Z United States Patent 3,401,716 TOILET FLUSH VALVE West H. Gallogly, Birmingham, Mich. (1225 E. Maple, Troy, Mich. 48084) Filed Mar. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 351,110 14 Claims. (Cl. 137-414) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toilet flush valve comprising a diaphragm which divides a housing into a first chamber adjacent one surface of the diaphragm. The housing has an inlet adjacent the opposite surface of the diaphragm and an outlet spaced from the inlet and adjacent said opposite surface of the diaphragm. The housing further has a passage between the inlet and the first chamber and a passage between the inlet and a second chamber. Float operated valve means is provided between the second chamber and the outlet.

This invention relates to toilet flush valves.

It is an object of this invention to provide a toilet flush valve which is simple, quiet, relatively inexpensive, made of non-corrosive materials, and will prevent the waste of water in the event the main toilet valve does not close after flushing.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary part sectional perspective view of a toilet embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view taken from below of the operating mechanism for the toilet flush valve.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the parts in diflerent operative position.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of a modified form of toilet flush valve.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 7 showing a portion of a further modified form of toilet flush valve.

Referring to FIG. 1, the toilet flush valve 10 embodying the invention is adapted to be mounted on an inlet water pipe 11 extending upwardly within the tank 12 of the toilet which, in turn, is operatively connected with the toilet bowl 13.

Upon manipulation of the handle 14, the main toilet valve or ball 15 is elevated to permit the water within the tank 16 to flush the toilet in accordance with well-known practice. In addition, the tank 12 is provided with an overflow pipe 17 in accordance with conventional practice.

Referring to FIGS. 2-6, all the parts of the flush valve mechanism 10 are made of a non-corrosive material, such as the acetal resin known under the trade mark Delrin.

The main body of the flush valve 10 comprises :a first upper section 20, a second intermediate section 21 and a third lower section 22. Each of the sections is substantially identical in horizontal cross-section (FIG. 3). A flexible diaphragm 23 is interposed between the first section and the second section 21 and a sealing gasket 24 is interposed between the second section 21 and the third section 22. Sections 20, 21 and 22 are adapted to be clamped together by means of screws or rivets.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper section 20 is provided with a cavity 25 which defines a chamber above the 3,401,716 Patented Sept. 17, 1968 diaphragm 23. The second section 21 is provided with an annular seat 26 that divides the area beneath the diaphragm 23 into an annular inlet chamber 27 and an outlet chamber 28. The lower section 22 is threaded on the upper end of inlet pipe 11. Inlet pipe 11 is aligned with an inlet opening 29 in second section 21. Passage 30 in second section 21 and aligned passage 31 in first section 20 provide communication between inlet 29 and the chamber 25.

Outlet chamber 28 is connected by a vertical outlet 32 in second section 21 to a horizontal passage 33 (FIGS. 3 and 6) which, in turn, extends tangentially to an annular space 34 formed between the inside walls of aligned openings in the first section 20 and the second section 21 and a pipe 35 that extends upwardly from the third section within the first and second sections. First section 20 is also provided with an opening 36 extending to the atmosphere. A radial passage 37 extends laterally outwardly and is adapted to be connected by a pipe 38 (FIG. 1) to the overflow pipe 17.

The first section 20 is also provided with a second chamber 38 which is connected by a short passage 39 with chamber 25. An interconnecting passageway 40 extends between chamber 38 and a passage 41a which communicates with the annular outlet space 34. A resilient conical seat 41 of rubber or the like is provided at the upper end of the passageway 40 and a plastic ball 42 is adapted to be seated by gravity and the pressure of water against seat 41. Ball 42 can be moved upwardly away from the seat 41 by a pin 43 formed on the upper end of an actuator 44 through which a float arm 45 extends. Pin 43 extends through passage 40 and gasket 24 seals against the pin 43. Arm 45 is pivoted to the lower section 21 at 46 and has an angularly adjustable float 47 on one end thereof. As shown in FIG. 4, when tank 12 is full of water, the water level L maintains float 47 and, in turn, the arm 45 in position to hold the actuator 44 and, in turn, the pin 43 downwardly permitting the water pressure in chamber 25 and chamber 38 to hold the ball 42 against the seat 41.

The handle 14 on the tank 12 is operatively connected to a lever 48 pivoted to the lower section 22 of the toilet flush valve 10 at 49 (FIG. 2). When the handle 14 is rotated to move the main valve or ball 15 upwardly, the lever 48 is moved upwardly as shown in FIG. 5 to move the actuator 44 and pin 43 upwardly and move the ball 42 away from the seat 41.

This permits the water pressure from chamber 38 to pass through passageway 40 and passage 41a to the outlet 34, momentarily relieving the pressure in chamber 25 so that the water pressure entering through inlet pipe 28 will flow through the annular chamber 27 to outlet 28 and through passage 32 and outlet passage 33 to the annular space 34. The water enters space 34 tangentially and rises in the space 34 overflowing into pipe 35 to fill the tank 12. At the same time, water passes outwardly through passage 37 to the overflow pipe 17 to fill the toilet bowl.

As the level in the tank rises, the float 47 moves the actuator 44 downwardly and finally permits the ball 42 tc be seated against the seat 41 and thereby interrupts the flow of water to the tank.

A drip opening 50 is provided in the lower section 21 between the outlet 33 and the exterior of the housing The float arm 45 is provided at the end opposite the floa with a scoop 51 into which the water from the drip open ing 50 passes as the tank is being filled. The weight 0 the float 47 is balanced with relation to the capacity 0 the scoop 51 such that after a predetermined period 0 time, when the water has substantially filled the scoo 51, the float arm 45 is moved in a counterclockwise fasl: ion to permit the ball 42 to seat against the seat 41, eve though the level of the water in the tank has not rise:

3 to the proper level. This is to avoid wastage of water in the event that the main valve has not seated properly in the tank, as often occurs.

In order to prevent siphoning of the contents of the toilet back into the water line in the event of failure of water pressure, the differential pressure that would normally occur by a relative reduction pressure in the inlet opening 29 permits air to enter through the inlet 36 and pass to the inlet pipe 38 rather than water to be siphoned from the pipe 35. This thereby avoids siphoning of the contents of the tank.

In order to prevent a severe shock on the valve as would occur if the diaphragm 23 were to close suddenly, the upper wall of chamber above the diaphragm 23 is made so that it will yield. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, a piece of elastic foam material 25 may form the upper wall of the chamber 25. As the float rises and the valve 42 is permitted to seat against the annular seat 41, the water pressure acting on the diaphragm 23 seats the diaphragm against the annular seat 26. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 4, piece 25' of resilient foam material is partially compressed. As the diaphragm fully seats to the position shown in FIG. 6, the piece of foam material is fully compressed. This absorbs some of the shock and prevents transfer of the shock to the pipe 11 thereby eliminating the noise that would normally occur if the shock caused by the build up of pressure were transferred to the pipe 11. As a result, the diaphragm closing action is smooth and somewhat delayed without the formation of the undesirable shock and noise.

Instead of utilizing a piece of resilient foam material as shown in FIGS. 46, the yielding wall on the upper end of the chamber 25 can be formed by a sealed bag 60 of rubber having air entrapped in the interior space 61 thereof FIG. 7. Alternately, the wall 62 forming the top of the chamber 25 may be made of resilient material such as rubber and have spring 63 therea'bove which yieldingly urges the wall downwardly as shown in FIG. 8.

I claim:

1. In a toilet flush valve, the combination comprising a first upper section,

a second lower section,

a diaphragm interposed between the upper and lower sections,

said second section having a space defining a first chamber above said diaphragm,

said first section having an annular valve seat therein adapted to be engaged by said diaphragm to divide the space beneath said diaphragm into a first annular space and a central space,

and a third section below said second section,

said third section having an inlet,

said second and third sections having aligned openings therein communicating with said inlet and the annular space surrounding said valve seat,

first passage means in said first and second sections providing communication between the inlet and said chamber in said first section,

an outlet in said second section,

said first section having a second chamber,

second passage means in said first section providing communication between said first and second chambers,

said first and second sections having cooperating portions defining a third chamber,

said third section having an outlet pipe extending upwardly into said third chamber and defining an annular outlet space in cooperation with said first and second sections,

said outlet in said second section communicating with said annular outlet space,

said second section having a passage providing communication between said third chamber and said outlet in said second section,

a resilient seat surrounding said passage in said second section,

a ball adapted to engage said resilient seat to close communication between said second chamber and said outlet,

and an actuator extending through said second and third sections to said first section for moving said ball away from said resilient seat,

a float member associated with said actuator adapted to move said actuator away from the ball when the water in the bowl rises to a predetermined level,

said third section including a drip opening communi eating with said outlet,

said float member having a reservoir thereon adapted to be filled with water passing through said drip opening,

said reservoir being so positioned relative to the remainder of said float member such that when the reservoir is filled to a predetermined level, it moves the float member and the actuator downwardly to permit the ball to engage said resilient seat.

2. In a toilet valve, the combination comprising a diaphragm,

means defiining a first chamber adjacent one surface of said diaphragm,

means defining an inlet adjacent the opposite surface of said diaphragm,

means defining an outlet spaced from said inlet adjacent said opposite surface of said diaphragm,

means defining a seat surrounding the outlet on which said diaphragm may be forced by water pressure to eparate the inlet from the outlet,

means defining a passage between the inlet and said first-mentioned chamber,

means defining a second chamber,

passage means between said first and second chambers,

float-operated valve means between said second chamber and said outlet normally closing communication between said second chamber and said outlet whereby when said valve means is actuated the water pressure in said first chamber is momentarily relieved so that the diaphragm moves away from said seat to permit the water to flow from said inlet and pass to said outlet,

and means operable after a predetermined interval of time after the float operated valve means has been actuated to return said float operated valve means to its original condition interrupting the flow of water from said inlet to said outlet.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 including a vertically extending open-ended pipe communicating adjacent its periphery with said outlet,

the upper end of said pipe being opened to the atmosphere and the lower end being adapted to extend into said tank whereby air pressure operates in a reverse manner through said outlet to prevent siphoning of the contents of the toilet bowl into said valve upon failure of the water pressure.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said float-operated valve means includes a ball,

a resilient seat,

and a float adapted to actuate said ball and move it away from said resilient seat.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2 including a secondary outlet spaced from said first-mentioned outlet adapted to extend to the bowl refill of a toilet.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein a wall to said first chamber opposite said diaphragm is yieldable to minimize shock noises.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said last-mentioned wall is made of resilient foam material.

8. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said last-mentioned wall is spring loaded.

9. In a toilet flush valve, the combination comprising a first upper section,

a second lower section,

a diaphragm interposed between the upper and lower sections,

said second section having a space defining a first chamber above said diaphragm,

said first section having an annular valve seat therein adapted to be engaged by said diaphragm to divide the space beneath said diaphragm into a first annular space and a central space,

and a third section below said second section,

said third section having an inlet,

said second and third sections having aligned openings therein communicating with said inlet and the annular space surrounding said valve seat,

first passage means in said first and second sections providing communication between the inlet and said chamber in said first section,

an outlet in said second section,

said first section having a second chamber,

second passage means in said first section providing communication between said first and second chambers,

said first and second sections having cooperating portions defining a third chamber,

said third section having an outlet pipe extending upwardly into said third chamber and defining an annular outlet space in cooperation with said first and second sections,

said outlet in said second section communicating with said annular outlet space,

said second section having a passage providing communication between said third chamber and said outlet in said second section,

a resilient seat surrounding said passage in said second section,

a ball adapted to engage said resilient seat to close communication between said second chamber and said outlet, I

and an actuator extending through said second and third sections to said first section for moving said ball away from said resilient seat,

a float member associated with said actuator adapted to move said actuator away from the ball when the water in the bowl rises to a predetermined level,

and means operable after a predetermined interval of time after the float operated valve means has been actuated to return said float operated valve means to its original condition interrupting the flow of water from said inlet to said outlet.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 including a laterally extending opening in said first section communicating with the annular outlet space surrounding said pipe of said third section to permit water to flow outwardly to fill the tank bowl.

11. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein a wall of said first chamber opposite said diaphragm is yieldable to minimize shock loads due to sudden closing of the diaphragm against said seat.

12. In a toilet valve, the combination comprising a diaphragm,

means defining a first chamber adjacent one surface of said diaphragm,

means defining an inlet adjacent the opposite surface of said diaphragm,

means defining an outlet spaced from said inlet adjacent said opposite surface of said diaphragm,

means defining a seat on which said diaphragm may be forced by water pressure to separate the inlet from the outlet,

means defining a passage between the inlet and said first-mentioned chamber,

means defining a second chamber,

passage means between said first and second chambers,

float-operated valve means between said second chamber and said outlet normally closing communication between said second chamber and said outlet whereby when said valve means is actuated, the water pressure in said first chamber is momentarily relieved so that the diaphragm moves away from said seat to permit the water to flow from said inlet and pass to said outlet,

and means operable after a predetermined interval of time after the float operated valve means has been actuated to return said float operated valve means to its original condition interrupting the flow of water from said inlet to said outlet.

13. In a toilet valve, the combination comprising a diaphragm,

means defining a first chamber adjacent one surface of said diaphragm,

means defining an inlet adjacent the opposite surface of said diaphragm,

means defining an outlet spaced from said inlet adjacent said opposite surface of said outlet,

means defining a seat on which said diaphragm may be forced by water pressure to separate the inlet from the outlet,

means defining a passage between the inlet and said first-mentioned chamber,

means defining a second chamber,

passage means between said first and second chambers,

float-operated valve means between said second chamber and said outlet normally closing communication between said second chamber and said outlet whereby when said valve means is actuated the water pressure in said first chamber is momentarily relieved so that the diaphragm moves away from said seat to permit the water to flow from said inlet and pass to said outlet,

said float-operated valve means including a float arm having an open reservoir thereon,

means defining a drip opening from said outlet for directing water to said reservoir whereby as the water flows through the outlet a portion thereof flows through said drip opening to fill said reservoir and move said arm to permit said valve to be closed after a predetermined interval of time.

14. In a toilet valve, the combination comprising a housing,

a diaphragm in said housing,

said housing having a first chamber adjacent one surface of said diaphragm,

said housing having an inlet adjacent the opposite surface of said diaphragm,

said housing having an outlet spaced from said inlet adjacent said opposite surface of said outlet,

a seat on said housing on which said diaphragm may be forced by water pressure to separate the inlet from the outlet,

a passage in said housing between the inlet and said first-mentioned chamber,

a second chamber in said housing,

passage means in said housing between said first and second chambers,

valve means within said housing between said second chamber and said outlet normally closing communication between said second chamber and said outlet,

float means externally of said housing operatively connected to said valve means,

whereby when said valve means is actuated the water pressure in said first chamber is permitted to flow to said outlet so that the water pressure from said inlet will pass to said outlet,

said float means including a reservoir thereon,

means defining a drip opening from said outlet for directing water to said reservoir whereby as the water flows through the outlet a portion thereof flows References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Sogn et a1 137-411 Crockett 137-416 Svirsky 137-414 Volcov et. a1. 251-46 7 Parkison 137-437 X 2/1964 Gresham 251-46 X 8/1964 Cordis 137-414 7/1965 Grant 137-414 11/1966 Goldtrap 137-414 FOREIGN PATENTS 5/ 1964 Great Britain.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner. D. R. MATTHEWS, Assistant Examiner. 

